Fire-extinguishing apparatus



7 o. R. ERWIN F IRE EXT INGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12. D

I 1727025021 OrZancZOEErwm. a

Wat an Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED .s ATEs 1 4 PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO R. ERWIN, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK, ASBIGNOR TO FOAMITE-CHILDS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE' FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 12, 1920., Serial No. 423,511.

the solution containers are located so as to be on the top side when the extinguisher-is tipped to bring it into action, a regulated non-gurgling even flow of the solutions into the mixing chamber being thus effected automatically, that is, without special thought or variation of procedure in the operation of the extinguisher. Eccentric mounting of the main container with respect to the axis on which it turns in tipping may be the factor predetermining the direction of tipping. The projecting handle also may indicate and insure such predetermination. The wheeled engine structure in addition to providing for trundling insures ready tipping in the predetermined direction and, given also the relative equalizer arrangementstated, effects the desired uniform non-gurgling operation. This eliminates undue pressure strains in the container, which may therefore be made of relatively light material on which account the apparatus, though of the gallon type, may be easily transported and operated. Furthermore, thoughthe outlets for both solution containers into the mixing chamber be normally open, the engine may by grasping the projecting handle be dragged or pushed in a position oblique but not sufiiciently oblique to produce solution discharge, or at all events discharge ofuboth solutions, and the arrangement is substantially splash proof in the transportation 'of the engine. p

Referring to the drawings; Figure l is a side elevation of. the upright engine.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the .engine when tilted into active position,

Figure 3 is a cross section on the Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a cross Figure 2.

The body of the engine comprises an outer line section on the line4-4,

shell 5, having a concave bottom portion 6,

' preferably integral with said portion 5.

from the mixing chamber to one or both of Mounted on top of the shell and fixed thereto as by riveting is a dome portion 7 forming the top of the engine and provided with charging opening 8 andldischarging opening 9. The charging opening is normally closed in any'desired way as by a thimble 10 fitted therein having an outwardly turned flange. portion 11 secured to the dome, and a threaded neck 12 which receives the threaded collar portion 13 of a rotatable hand wheel cap 14, which with a gasket 15 between the neck and the hand wheel cap completes the closure. In the discharge opening 9 is fitted anrinternally threaded bushing 16 adapted to receive pipe 17 ,to which is connected a fire hose 18. The shell 5 is supported for purposes of transportation upon the beam 19, on the outer ends of which are mounted for rotation wheels 20,the shell being retained on the said. beam by any desired means, that shown in the drawings being a strap 21 encircling the said shell and connected at its opposite ends to beam 19, these parts being so arranged that when the engine is in erect position as shown in Figure 1, the strap is in the horizontal plane of the axis of wheels 20, by which arrangement the engine is properly supported when in erect position. The mounting of the extinguisher to one side of the wheel axis predetermines the direction of tipping. The handle 22 fixed to the upper portion of the shell and projecting in the direction of tipping also serves this purpose-being in itself a sufiicient predetermining means. The handle is grasped in pushing or pulling the apparatus and also provides supporting means for the shell when in final tilted position, as shown in Figure 2.

For proper storing of the solutions and for efficient generation and emission of the foam, the engine is subdivided into three compartments, two of which are solution containers and the other a mixing chamber. The preferred arrangement shown in the drawin s comprises a partition in the form of a dis .23 connected to the interior surface of the body portion of the-shell as by riveting and subdividing the engine into an upper. mixing chamber 24 and a lower body portion 25, the said body portion being further subdivided into'twosolution chambers,

as by tank 26 supported from the .disk 23,

' 23 tends to prevent splashing of A solution.

Easy flow by gravity of the solutions from the solution compartments into the mixing chamber is insured by providing means for equalizing the pressure of the generated foam on the solutions at the solution outlets, such means comprising equalizing pressure inlets 30 and 31 formed in the disk 23, these inlets comprising in the preferred form tubular members 32 and 33 extending into the solution chambers and terminating near the bottom portions thereof. Splashing of A solution is further guarded against by extending equalizing'tube 32, when pres ent, into the mixing chamber as shown in Figure 2, and these provisions along with the handle 22, eliminate the need of a screw valve to be operated as heretofore cust'om ary for opening the acid or basic container. The other end of tube 32 is fixed to an angle iron 34 connected to any convenient portion of the tank 26, the said tank being in turn supported by means of plate 35 secured to the shell or the tubular member 33.

The engine tipped to the proper angle in the predetermined direction and trundled if necessary to reach the fire, is brought into operation by tilting to active position, as in Fig. 2, whereupon the solutions flowing out of the solution chambers through the solution outlets into the mixing chamber and being there thoroughly mixed generate the fire extinguishing foam, which discharges through the fire hose 18. The feeding of the solutions is automatically regulated by the solution outlets, this providing a regulated mixture, thus preventing undue pressure strains in the container. Some of the generated foam passes from the mix ing chamber to the solution chambers by way of the equalizing pressure means, thus equalizing the pressure on the solutions and providing for the steady and non-gurgling flow of thesolutions into the mixing cham ber.

While I have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims: 1

1. A fire extinguisher having means pre determining the axis on which it is adapted to be tipped and the direction of'tipping, comprising two solution containers, and a mixing chamber, outlets from both containers to said mixing chamber, and a pressure equalizer opening from the mixing chamber to one of said solution containers arranged on the side of the'extinguisher which is highest when tipped.

2. A fire extinguisher having wheels by which it is transported and adapted to be tipped by turning on the axis of said wheels in a predetermined direction, comprising a soda solution container, an acid solution container and a mixing chamber, outlets from both said containers to the mixing chamber,

and a pressure equalizer opening from the est when tipped, and a pressure equalizerv opening from the mixing chamber to one of said containers arranged on theside of the extinguisher which is highest when tipped.

4L. A Wheeled fire extinguishing engine adapted by tilting of the engine for the commixing of chemical solutions to produce a fire extinguishing foam, comprising an outer shell, a wheeled support for said shell, these parts being so constructed as to support the shell normally in erect position and to permit the shell to be moved substantially 90 degrees from the said erect position to a tilted position and so supported, means subdividing the interior of the shell into solution compartments provided with solution outlets and a mixing chamber communicating by means of the said outlets with the solution compartments and a discharge opening formed in the mixing chamber; the said solution outlets being located to one side and the discharge opening to the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the shell with the discharge opening located at the top when the engine is moved to tilted position whereby upon tilting the engine the solutions will flow to the bottom of the mixing chamber and there commix to produce a fire extinguishing foam which freely risesin the mixing chamber for discharge through the said discharge opening. 5. A wheeled fire extinguishing engine adapted by tilting of the engine for the commixing of chemical solutions to produce a fire extinguishing foam, comprising an outer shell, a wheeled support for said shell, these parts being so constructed as to support the shell normally in erect position and to permit the shell to be moved substantially 90 degrees from the said erect position to a tilted position and so supported, means subdividing the interior of the shell into solution compartments provided with solution outlets and a mixing chamber communicating by means of the said outlets with the solution compartments, a discharge opening formed in the mixing chamber; the said solution outlets being located to one side and the discharge opening to the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the shell with the discharge opening located at the top when the engine is moved to tilted position whereby upon tilting the engine the solutions will flow to the bottom of the mixing chamber and there commix to produce a fire extinguishing foam which freely rises in the mixing chamber for discharge through the said discharge opening and equalizing pressure means connecting the mixlng chamber with the said solution compartments.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of November, A. D. 1920.

ORLANDO R. ERWIN. 

